Device for drying wet hair



Sept. 3, 1957 E. P. SCOTT DEVICE FOR DRYING WET HAIR Filed April 30,1954.

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United Sittes Patent M 1 2,804,695 DEVICE FGR DRYING WET HAIR Elmer P.Scott, New York, N. Y. Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,820 1Claim. (Cl. 3495) The present invention is directed to means for dryingthe hair after shampooing, and more particularly to a simple structureadapted to be placed over the head of the wearer.

It is customary practice after shampooing the hair for the individual tobe placed under a heating arrangement which was electrically heated andproduced a warm current of air which passed through the hair of theindividual, thereby drying it. In some cases, the direct heat raysfalling on the hair accomplished the drying operation. While thesedevices were successful in drying the hair and were adequate for thepurpose, they were quite inconvenient in use. It was necessary for theindividual to sit under the apparatus for a relatively long time in astationary position so that the operation was quite tiresome. Also therewas the danger of overheating the hair and rendering it brittle, orunderheating with the resultant imperfect drying of the hair. Becausesuch apparatus was electrically heated, there was a danger of shortcircuits and shock to the individual whose hair was being dried.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome thedifiiculties and disadvantages inherent in prior devices of the typedescribed, it being among the objects of the present invention toprovide an arrangement which is efiective in drying hair but does notrequire the individual to remain seated and in a substantiallymotionless position.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide adevice of the character described, which is simple in construction,which is light in weight and which may be readily adjusted by theindividual whose hair is to be dried.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide adevice in which the element used for the drying is heatless, does notrequire the use of electricity, and which is replaceable or renewable atlittle or no expense.

In practicing the present invention there is provided a flexible cap ofrubber, plastic or the like, having at the lower end an elastic band orthe like so that it is held tightly around the head of the wearer withthe hair within the cap. Along the lower edge of the cap is a series ofopenings, and similarly at the crown thereof is at least one series ofopenings. By reason thereof, air circulates into the lower set ofopenings through the hair and out through the crown of the cap.

Within the cap is provided a packet which is made of a suitable materialpreferably of a relatively coarse mesh so as to allow air to passthrough the same. The packet contains a granular material which iscapable of absorbing water and holding the water in a physicallycombined state. Thereby as the air passes through the cap, it picks upmoisture from the hair and the moisture is in turn picked up by thefilling material in the packet. Thereby the individual is not confinedto any one position during the drying of the hair and there is no dangerof accidental burning or scorching of the hair.

The invention is more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a cap made in accordance with the present invention, worn by anindividual whose hair is to be dried, some parts being broken away forclearness;

Patented Sept. 3, 1957 ICC Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view thereof, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the packet.

The cap 1 of usual form has an elastic band 2 around the lower edgethereof and a ruffle 3 or the like extending below band 2. The packet 4consists of an upper disk 5 and a lower disk 6 stitched togetheradjacent to the periphery thereof by stitching 7. Filling material 8consisting of particles of such size that they are held within themeshes of disks 5 and 6 fill the packet. Various materials may be used,such as calcium chloride, silica gel, aluminum oxide or any other dryingor absorbing agent which effectively absorbs the moisture and does notdetrimentally affect the skin, hair or scalp or the materials of thepacket and cap. A set of members 9 of cooperating snap fasteners arearranged around the periphery of the packet and cooperatingcomplementary members 10 are secured within the cap at an intermediateportion thereof. A series of openings 11 are formed around the cap justabove band 2.

Above the series of fasteners are two sets of openings 12 and 13arranged in circles one above the other and adjacent to the crown of thecap. A natural circulation of air into openings 11 through disk 6,filling material 8 and disk 5 and through openings 12 and 13 rapidlydries the hair without immobilizing the user.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a singlespecific embodiment thereof, the invention is not to be limited theretoas various changes in the details of construction may be made within theprinciples herein set forth. For instance, instead of a mesh fabric 5and 6 for the disks, various paper or other materials may be used. Thepacket need not be circular in shape but may be of any desired form tofit within the cap. Other means than snap fasteners may be used fordetachably securing the packet to the cap. The filling material may besuch as is regenerated by heating so that the packet may be placed in awarming oven for a short time to remove moisture from the fillingmaterial, and it is again ready for use. Such a filling material ispreferred in the drying device.

These and other changes may be made without departing from theprinciples herein set forth and the invention is not to be limitedexcept by the character of the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A device for drying wet hair comprising a cap of flexible sheet materialadapted to enclose the head of the wearer, means along the lower edge ofsaid cap to retain the same in adjusted position, a packet containingwater absorbent material held within said cap and positioned in thecrown thereof, a first plurality of openings in said cap located in thecrown thereof, a second plurality of openings in said cap located nearthe lower edge thereof, said first plurality of openings and said secondplurality of openings adapted to permit circulation of air into saidcap, through said wet hair and said packet, and out of said cap.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,794,940 Zimmerman Mar. 3, 1931 2,470,833 Moore May 24, 1949 2,488,793Amerkan Nov. 22, 1949 2,493,363 Sapp Ian. 3, 1950 2,497,301 Farmer Feb.14, 1950 2,585,735 Bunting Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,001,677France Oct. 24, 1951

